10 Synth Riffs That Shook The World

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  • Опубликовано: 29 авг 2019
  • 10 songs featuring synth riffs and lines that shook the world. In a positive way.
    A day in the life of a Nordic synth artist and RUclipsr: • A day in the life of a...
    The Final Countdown, Thriller, Light my Fire, Save a Prayer, Take on me, Jump etc.
    These riffs all whipped me into shape as a keyboard player, and composer in the mid 80s, all in a different way.
    "Thriller" by the build-up into the main hook, "The Final Countdown" by it's majestic synth brass sound and also build up. "Take on Me" by it's catchy almost arpeggio-like way of playing, along with the staccato DX synth bass, "Save a Prayer" by utilizing the pitch bend wheel in a new way as well as the different keys the chords take throughout the song. Axel F for simplicity yet intoxicating main hook and bass, "New Song" for the way Mr. HJ so effortless managed several synths at the same time, yet playing that catchy riff. "Light my Fire" by sheer awesomeness in the outrageous use of different keys and chords in that short amount of time the solo lasts. "Deep Red" by its use of different time signatures and the way is so hypnotizing together with the visuals of the movie. Lastly "Toccata and Fugue in Dm", pure madness and every note just adds to the madness. I've taken inspiration from this piece for years and many of my songs have snippets of that in it, in different ways.
    The synthesizer used in all the clips is a Korg DW-8000 from 1985. This video actually started out as a demo of this (somewhat beat up synth), hence me using it for everything. The sounds used are from my own custom patch bank for this synth. I sell this bank. A separate demo of this is on this channel.
    Links to the songs:
    Thriller: • Michael Jackson - Thri...
    The Final Countdown: • Europe - The Final Cou...
    Jump: • Van Halen - Jump (Offi...
    Take on Me: • a-ha - Take On Me (Off...
    Axel F: • Harold Faltermeyer - A...
    Save a Prayer: • Duran Duran - Save A P...
    New Song: • Howard Jones - New Song
    Light my Fire: • The Doors - Light My F...
    Deep Red: • GOBLIN "PROFONDO ROSSO...
    Toccata and Fugue in Dm (the version I like the best): • Karl Richter spielt di...
  • ВидеоклипыВидеоклипы

Комментарии • 7 тыс.

  • @cbmsysmobile
    @cbmsysmobile 4 года назад +9442

    Just imagine what Bach could have done with today's synths......

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  4 года назад +819

      It would be totlly awesome! ;-)

    • @jimgauth
      @jimgauth 4 года назад +107

      Station!

    • @Shadowboost
      @Shadowboost 4 года назад +142

      It would be beyond imagination

    • @4623620
      @4623620 4 года назад +92

      Maybe something like Wendy (Walter) Carlos did for the album "Switched on Bach" and for the film "A Clockwork Orange".
      ruclips.net/video/5cUaunnnKhQ/видео.html
      Not bad, but I think Bach is best the way it originally is, T&F in Dm opened my mind to the mathematical aspects of his music.

    • @Mindphaser1
      @Mindphaser1 4 года назад +127

      He would be Vangelis.

  • @giordanricardo447
    @giordanricardo447 3 года назад +1495

    0:30 Thriller - Michael Jackson.
    0:56 The final countdown - Europe.
    1:28 Take on me - A-ha.
    1:54 Save a prayer -Duran Duran.
    2:29 Axel F - Harold Faltemayer.
    2:58 Profondo Rosso - Goblin.
    3:19 Jump - Van Halen.
    3:48 Light my fire - The Doors.
    4:16 New song - Howard Jones.
    5:01 Toccata & Fugue Dm - J.S Bach.

  • @Snavels
    @Snavels 2 года назад +217

    One of my favorite things about Thriller, as a jazz musician, is how nice and full the chords are. Listening to the Rhodes part, it's a lot of Minor 7s and Diminished chords, and at one time they even play a 7th chord shape on one hand and a 6th shape on the other, but they still didn't forget about simple chords.

    • @DatOneGuy
      @DatOneGuy 2 года назад +3

      As a jazz enthusiast, Thriller got me going 😳 right away

    • @gregsullivan7408
      @gregsullivan7408 2 года назад

      It's only recently that I was even aware there was a Rhodes in it at all. (thanks to Dr Mix)
      P.S Does it really contain some Jazz?? I like it far too much for me to believe it qualifies. 🤣

    • @mandalorian957
      @mandalorian957 10 месяцев назад

      You like a pedo

    • @KBizzy
      @KBizzy 8 месяцев назад

      @@gregsullivan7408not jazz, but jazz chords. Chords that came from jazz music. Such is the case with a lot of R&B/Pop music

    • @patrickeagan2051
      @patrickeagan2051 5 месяцев назад

      Mks50 + pg300?

  • @markalexander3487
    @markalexander3487 2 года назад +45

    Jump is an all time classic. It was very bold to use a synth in place of rock guitar.

    • @musicman8942
      @musicman8942 4 месяца назад

      Keep in mind that both van Halen brothers were pianists before they took up drums & guitar

  • @donnythedingo
    @donnythedingo 4 года назад +672

    Everybody's gangster until Bach steps up to the synthesizer

    • @OJstellar
      @OJstellar 3 года назад +9

      Chopin would probably rock it as well

    • @heathermcdougall2399
      @heathermcdougall2399 3 года назад +1

      @@OJstellar I've actually oplayed Bach on a prophet 5 and attempted Chopin too, but he needs a bigger keyboard mostly.

    • @mrtower7435
      @mrtower7435 3 года назад +3

      lol, the quote of the century

    • @alexandrumacedon291
      @alexandrumacedon291 3 года назад +2

      @@mrtower7435 bach was the least nice of all so... i don;t know why he included him. maybe personal preference

    • @johnbishop5316
      @johnbishop5316 3 года назад

      @@heathermcdougall2399 Bach had only four and half octaves!

  • @VeronicaMcCarrison
    @VeronicaMcCarrison 4 года назад +807

    The synthesiser was the King of the 80's music genre when you hear those sounds you always think of the music of the 80's

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  4 года назад +39

      Yes, it was. ;-)

    • @geonauto
      @geonauto 4 года назад +31

      This year has been reborn of synth,have a look to pop music

    • @MacetazzOpina
      @MacetazzOpina 3 года назад +19

      most of the music you listen to in the radio: pop, hip hop etc is done entirely by synths, they are just not the famous cheap japanese polysynths and digital fm synths people used in the 80s because they were the first affordable to any musician, most synths we hear now are completely digital in computers

    • @fakshen1973
      @fakshen1973 3 года назад +12

      The early 1980's was truly the era of the AFFORDABLE synthesizer. It wasn't so much king but the 80's were awash in people trying to push the envelope.

    • @curtisthomas2670
      @curtisthomas2670 3 года назад +17

      But those cheap/affordable synths made such lovely, distinct and memorable sounds

  • @TruthTriumphs786
    @TruthTriumphs786 2 года назад +110

    Sweet Dreams deserve top ten. The synths was amazing in it.

    • @soloperformer5598
      @soloperformer5598 Год назад +1

      By Yes?

    • @crisbowman
      @crisbowman Год назад +7

      No, by Eurythmics

    • @needamuffin
      @needamuffin 10 месяцев назад +2

      Sweet Dreams and Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) were the first two I thought of.

    • @Random_user_8472
      @Random_user_8472 Месяц назад +1

      I just can't get enough - Depeche Mode should be in there too.

  • @nickhaynie5980
    @nickhaynie5980 2 года назад +9

    "I wear my sunglasses at night " has a very memorable riff.

  • @sapphire962
    @sapphire962 3 года назад +798

    The 80s had the most iconic movie intros. Narrator starts to tell the story while a synth plays in the background. Camera glances at the white hightops in motion and follows a big head of frizzy hair and they glide outside and hop onto their bike, ready to sail the summer air

    • @gajol3257
      @gajol3257 3 года назад

      Im searching for this song i think! It starts with the same 3 (maybe) fast-playing synth notes. Hard to explain haha, but please help if you know the name

    • @gajol3257
      @gajol3257 3 года назад

      The song that is used in a lot of 2000's american movies. And its either an intro or outro song, that slowly becomes higher as the narrator speaks

    • @Ismael-kc3ry
      @Ismael-kc3ry 2 года назад +1

      Lmfao I can picture it so easily

    • @vmega44
      @vmega44 2 года назад

      @@gajol3257 who's in the movie

    • @gajol3257
      @gajol3257 2 года назад +7

      @@vmega44 Thanks for trying to help, but I found the song! :D
      Its called "Baba O'Riley" by The Who

  • @hajirizayev7374
    @hajirizayev7374 3 года назад +574

    When "thriller" stopped, my mind kept the rhythm on.

    • @coachhannah2403
      @coachhannah2403 3 года назад +6

      That's an ear worm. Different.

    • @WayJilliamRohnson
      @WayJilliamRohnson 3 года назад +12

      When that bassline hits!! What a masterpiece

    • @jbasti227
      @jbasti227 3 года назад +12

      I was honestly expecting him to continue and play the baseline too lol

    • @HaharuRecords
      @HaharuRecords 3 года назад +1

      @@jbasti227 Hahah yeah😂

    • @bavackyantho5485
      @bavackyantho5485 3 года назад

      I'm glad it's over, so that I get to listen to Final Countdown, Take on me, Saving a prayer, Axel F & Jump

  • @H1Guard
    @H1Guard 4 месяца назад +9

    Pipe Organ: the original synthesizer

  • @AxelfoleyTheGreat
    @AxelfoleyTheGreat 2 года назад +5

    Hey thanks for playing my song. Much appreciated.

  • @UnstoppableFloridaMan
    @UnstoppableFloridaMan 4 года назад +694

    0:31 - Thriller
    0:57 - Final Countdown
    1:28 - Take on Me
    2:04 - Save a Prayer
    2:30 - Axel F
    3:00 - Profondo Rosso
    3:20 - Jump
    3:49 - Light My Fire
    4:16 - New Song
    5:02 - Toccata and Fugue Dm

    • @funkdocta5332
      @funkdocta5332 4 года назад +7

      Thank you very much! I almost did it myself but then I found your comment :)

    • @00bean00
      @00bean00 4 года назад +6

      A real hero and a real human bean

    • @kaori_kanzaki
      @kaori_kanzaki 4 года назад +2

      Thanks Rias. ❤

    • @kostiplays
      @kostiplays 4 года назад +2

      Rias rly is the best waifu

    • @vadimblanchy9579
      @vadimblanchy9579 4 года назад

      00bean00 yes this man truly is a bean

  • @d.s.6268
    @d.s.6268 4 года назад +1105

    Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams" has to be on this list.

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  4 года назад +136

      Didn't you watch my "10 Iconic Synth Bass Lines" video? ;-)

    • @xaviercrepin2930
      @xaviercrepin2930 4 года назад +32

      Depeche Mode and Gary Numan are missing in the list, probably they created so many good synth riffs they should have been included in a Top 100 list at least!

    • @jakelencher817
      @jakelencher817 4 года назад

      heh i can play that.

    • @jakelencher817
      @jakelencher817 4 года назад

      @P. D. Smart i will go on playing it for like an hour, and i notice everyone leaving the room.

    • @zachary4670
      @zachary4670 4 года назад +2

      Eurythmics song Here comes the rain again changed my life when I heard it. That synth sound mixed with the live orchestra was just amazing

  • @michaeljneal
    @michaeljneal 2 года назад +11

    This brought back some fond memories. I also had a DW-8000 back in my playing days. Paired with my drum machine and sequencer, I made full albums of music. What a wonderful time that was.

  • @blandrooker6541
    @blandrooker6541 10 месяцев назад +11

    So many to consider, so many left out that were awe inspiring but not really distributed outside of Europe. The one track that rocked my world and changed my entire musical paradigm in 1980 was Gary Numan's "Cars". Opened up the entire world for me. Human League's "Love Action", OMD's "Messages", Dolby's "One Of Our Submarines", Yazoo's "Dont' Go" and "Situation", the running synth line of Pet Shop Boys "Westend Girls", Depeche Mode's "Strange Love", New Order's "Blue Monday", M's "Pop Music", Afrika Bambaata's "Planet Rock" even though it sampled Kraftwerk heavily. So much of the 80s was just ground breaking, and so much of it came from the UK at a time when "the future" had an entirely different vibe.

  • @ChuckyDoll79
    @ChuckyDoll79 3 года назад +89

    Visage - Fade to Grey
    New Order - Blue Monday
    Donna Summer - I Feel Love
    Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence
    Robert Miles - Children
    Darude - Sandstorm
    Eurytmics - Sweet Dreams
    Massive Attack - Angel
    Just to name a few.

    • @kimble02
      @kimble02 3 года назад +2

      Damn sold list!

    • @johnmacrae7998
      @johnmacrae7998 3 года назад +2

      + Alice DJ - Better Off Alone

    • @miks564
      @miks564 3 года назад

      Very good list there.
      👍

    • @pigeonnebula7353
      @pigeonnebula7353 3 года назад

      The ending of highest in the room

    • @chinossynthesizer705
      @chinossynthesizer705 3 года назад

      Some of these songs are unlistenable because they are memes

  • @StahpShop
    @StahpShop 4 года назад +1965

    Me: time to go to bed
    RUclips: wanna see a guy play the synth?
    Me: well.. I should go to bed.. *clicks video*

    • @rob_odd
      @rob_odd 4 года назад +4

      I feel you! :D It's 01:48 and I got to get up at 7:30.^^

    • @ProducersVault
      @ProducersVault 4 года назад +4

      Nice demo, strange timing on Jump though

    • @sinking1902
      @sinking1902 4 года назад

      100% this. Now I want to buy some keys.

    • @johnbishop5316
      @johnbishop5316 4 года назад

      @@ProducersVault Stopped to sip his Horlicks. Nearly bedtime.

    • @p-aluneau5136
      @p-aluneau5136 4 года назад +1

      Literally me.

  • @ytpremium7649
    @ytpremium7649 2 года назад +7

    And he did on one of the world’s most underrated yet most amazing and warmest synth EVER - the mighty KORG DW8000

  • @randydogs61
    @randydogs61 2 года назад +7

    She Blinded me with Science by Thomas Dolby was one that stuck in my head in the 80s.

  • @silverstar2835
    @silverstar2835 4 года назад +284

    Mike Oldfield - Tubular bells
    Vangelis Papathanasiou - Alpha
    Alan Parsons Project - Lucifer
    Alphaville - Big in Japan
    New Order - Blue Monday
    Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (basically almost everything from Depeche Mode)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Electricity

    Kraftwerk - anything...you name it
    Yazoo - Don't Go
    Bronski Beat (jimmy Sommerville) - Smalltown Boy
    Jean Michel Jarre - Equinoxe 4, Oxygene 4, Magnetic Fields 2
    Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
    A-ha - Take on me
    Tears For Fears - Change
    Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams
    Axel F. - Beverly Hills Cop Theme Song

    • @dromeus21
      @dromeus21 4 года назад +13

      There are more Popcorn, the Chase (moroder), the theme from Terminator...

    • @Lovetrain-io6kt
      @Lovetrain-io6kt 4 года назад +12

      Shout tears for fears?!

    • @wolfgang4468
      @wolfgang4468 4 года назад +1

      Too many Alphas.

    • @vendingdudes
      @vendingdudes 4 года назад +2

      What a superb list in its own right

    • @lilo5437
      @lilo5437 4 года назад +5

      New Order, Kraftwerk and Falco ❤️❤️❤️

  • @kingle1944
    @kingle1944 4 года назад +77

    My god the synthesizer is such a sexy sounding instrument

    • @reactions5783
      @reactions5783 4 года назад

      Not the way this joker is bludgeoning it, it isn't.

  • @schrodingerscat1863
    @schrodingerscat1863 2 года назад +21

    I'm kind of surprised 'Donna Summer - I Feel Love' isn't in this list, that sound was so far ahead of it's time in the 70's it kickstarted the whole synth pop scene which spanned the 80's.

    • @michaelmanus7765
      @michaelmanus7765 2 года назад +5

      There are quite a few like that were well done synth pieces not mentioned here.

    • @rachelar
      @rachelar 11 месяцев назад +1

      That's more a groove than a riff

  • @cjimcook
    @cjimcook 2 года назад +7

    THE synth riff is any performance from "Switched-On Bach" (1968) by W. Carlos. The first classical album to go platinum, the major synth album, and the first to win several Grammy awards. Her succeeding albums each moved the needle, incidentally opening up at least four other synth-related genres.

  • @oddities-whatnot
    @oddities-whatnot 4 года назад +343

    The “Jump” synth part is extremely authentic to the original sound. Also, when a lot of people play this, they usually get the last chord wrong in the sequence. Subtle, but always the wrong notes. This guy got it right.

    • @synthdadmusic3388
      @synthdadmusic3388 4 года назад +2

      My favourite cover to play, nothing beats this to wake up an audience!

    • @danielhohenberg3840
      @danielhohenberg3840 4 года назад +27

      Weak playing rythm wise though

    • @johnbishop5316
      @johnbishop5316 4 года назад +38

      Completely wrong timing.

    • @st0rmchild
      @st0rmchild 3 года назад +29

      Lots of people get the chords right. Most people don’t screw up the rhythm like this.

    • @TheWarriorSongProject
      @TheWarriorSongProject 3 года назад +4

      @@johnbishop5316 he probably just hesitated trying to remember the riff. I don't think it was bad timing, considering his other demos...

  • @EvgeniyBerlin
    @EvgeniyBerlin 4 года назад +147

    Thriller chords are absolutely stunning

    • @synthdadmusic3388
      @synthdadmusic3388 4 года назад +2

      Probably Quincy Jones wrote them, guys a genius. Check out his Netflix doco. Amazing

    • @st0rmchild
      @st0rmchild 3 года назад +3

      Quincy’s a genius, but Thriller was written by Rod Temperton, and the synth part was most likely played by Greg Phillinganes.

    • @edwardjamyangmacarchick1847
      @edwardjamyangmacarchick1847 3 года назад

      @@st0rmchild LOL, you beat me to it! Wikipedia has the personnel listed and Jackson basically did vocals and that's it. After Jackson split from Quincy Jones I think his song quality dropped incredibly, and he usually had several writers/co-writers on most of the singles.

    • @st0rmchild
      @st0rmchild 3 года назад

      @@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847 Agree 100%. Quincy was the cornerstone of MJ's golden era.

    • @ricomajestic
      @ricomajestic 3 года назад

      @@st0rmchild He didn't write any of the songs though. He was able to find great songwriters and musicians though like the guys from toto and MJ was a great singer and songwriter too!

  • @Octovisuals
    @Octovisuals 2 года назад +16

    I love synths... Everything from Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre and many more should also be on the list. Thank you!

    • @onyx747
      @onyx747 6 месяцев назад

      I LOVE KRAFTWERK :D

  • @Gibretep
    @Gibretep 2 года назад +32

    Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene part 2 and 4. Gary numan - Cars, Are friends Electric, Complex. Kraftwerk - the model, Star Was - the original 1977 theme track, Visage - Fade to Gray, Ultravox - Veinna, OMD - Maid of Orleanes and Joan of arc, Japan - Ghosts, Heaven 17 - Quiet Life, temptation and that's just off the top of my head.

    • @1922Skidoo
      @1922Skidoo 2 года назад

      My favorite “ The March to the eternal city “ by Triumvirat

    • @peffken8834
      @peffken8834 2 года назад

      And so on.... there are so many concise lines.

    • @sn1ffy85
      @sn1ffy85 4 месяца назад

      Japan is Quiet Life.

  • @oldschoolebm666
    @oldschoolebm666 4 года назад +63

    Tears for fears - everybody wants to rule the world - bass /synth intro.
    Camouflage - the great commandment

  • @Kenoi_
    @Kenoi_ 4 года назад +92

    Journey: separate ways. One of my favorite synth riffs

    • @chaddionne2605
      @chaddionne2605 4 года назад

      So true, one of the first I tought of !

    • @jasonkilley
      @jasonkilley 4 года назад +2

      I see you’re a man of culture as well...

  • @westernsect5773
    @westernsect5773 Год назад +8

    Being a teenager in the 1980's (83 in fact) I got into Depeche Mode and it was seeing Alan Wilder behind his synths at the Glasgow Construction Time Again Tour that I got into synths. I had been a big fan of Gary Numan's first four albums. It made me and still does appreciate the older synths of the time ..Depeche, Yazoo, Bronski Beat, Soft Cell.. All that crowd.. Got a few synths as well as a few 80's relics.. Roland U-110, Yamaha cs01 and a very rare Korg SQ8 which works brilliantly with the U-110

    • @sorinpirtea2306
      @sorinpirtea2306 Год назад

      When Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode (after their first album, Speak & Spell, back in 1981), he took away with him some synths used for the tracks of the album, especially electronic drums. That explained why Depeche Mode and Yazoo sound similar related to drums.

    • @westernsect5773
      @westernsect5773 Год назад

      @@sorinpirtea2306 When Yazoo reformed in 2008..The sound was sparse but brilliant... I'd seen Erasure a few times but that doesn't compare to the sound of Yazoo .. (I know same guy)

    • @paulchang3336
      @paulchang3336 10 месяцев назад +1

      Alan Wilder was key player in all those DM 80s sounds ..genius

  • @RetroReminiscing
    @RetroReminiscing 2 года назад +4

    The save a prayer intro always gives me goosebumps...fantastic classic intro, love your upload, Sonique

    • @user-ms6rf3cn5v
      @user-ms6rf3cn5v 4 месяца назад

      I was not a fan of Duran Duran back at that time and "Save a player" was not their gratest hit, but it was the song when I startet to like Duran Duran. Also one of the most underratet bands from the 80s.

  • @damianosavraammisaelidis9727
    @damianosavraammisaelidis9727 3 года назад +132

    Depeche Mode "I just can't get enough", Yazzo "Only you" and Erasure "Respect" just to name a few.

    • @verdielg
      @verdielg 3 года назад +1

      depeche album cover throwing up the 666 illuminati hand sign...never noticed that until now

    • @johnmc3862
      @johnmc3862 3 года назад +1

      Good call!

    • @humanchannel7825
      @humanchannel7825 3 года назад +4

      OMD enola gay

    • @tulleuchen
      @tulleuchen 3 года назад +3

      New Order and Human League should be in there as well.

    • @TheEudaemonicPlague
      @TheEudaemonicPlague 2 года назад

      @@humanchannel7825 I was just listening to that yesterday, off the URGH! A Music War album, which is a collection of live recordings by a variety of bands. The video that goes with it is awesome.

  • @rick_terscale1111
    @rick_terscale1111 4 года назад +25

    OMD and Depeche Mode and a number of early 80's New Wave synth bands had all the most amazing synth riffs.

    • @siler7
      @siler7 4 года назад

      '80s.

  • @SelimReza-iw4pr
    @SelimReza-iw4pr 2 года назад +2

    That's what I have been looking for a long time.......Thank you Sir.

  • @atomant25gtadams26
    @atomant25gtadams26 Год назад +1

    I’ve been searching for the name of “New Song” for years. I’ve tried popular synth songs from 80s and many more. Thank you so much!!!!

  • @SuperAnatolli
    @SuperAnatolli 4 года назад +143

    Depeche Mode - Just can't get enough |===| OMD - Enola Gay.

    • @mansenmias
      @mansenmias 4 года назад +5

      I hate 'Just can't get enough' and its lousy riff but love 'Enola gay' and it's my first choice to replace Bach and The Doors that had no synthetizer available, so not synth riffs really. And everything about The Doors is overrated anyway… :/

    • @FrankHarwald
      @FrankHarwald 4 года назад +3

      Trans-X - LIving on Video

    • @jjerg
      @jjerg 4 года назад +2

      My fav Depeche Mode synth riff is "Never Let Me Down Again'

    • @u2bst1nks
      @u2bst1nks 4 года назад +5

      Any list of synth riffs that doesn't include a Vince Clarke riff is incomplete.

  • @MaxZorin8
    @MaxZorin8 4 года назад +32

    "Big Sleep" Simple Minds, "Ashes to Ashes" David Bowie, "Africa" Toto, "It's a Sin" Pet Shop Boys, "Little Lies" Fleetwood Mac, "Metal", "Cars" & "Are Friends Electric" Gary Numan...
    (And my favorite song ever is "Save a Prayer")

  • @therealsammyvee888
    @therealsammyvee888 Год назад +10

    Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics is another great one. Don't Go by Yazoo is also good. And I love Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode.

  • @PuppetMasterID2501
    @PuppetMasterID2501 2 года назад +1

    Congratulations Man , you did my day ! Thank you so much to you ! I appreciate :D

  • @ultreya6709
    @ultreya6709 4 года назад +104

    Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These, a-ha - The Sun Always Shines On T.V my two all time favorits :)

    • @nielssteffenssen8852
      @nielssteffenssen8852 2 года назад

      The Sun Always Shines On TV is fantastic, that intro wow. My favorite too.

    • @axywrll6015
      @axywrll6015 2 года назад +1

      do yoi mean faborites?

  • @trevormoffat4054
    @trevormoffat4054 4 года назад +87

    “Crockett’s Theme” - Jan Hammer
    “Closer” - Nine Inch Nails
    “Africa” - Toto
    Also the synth solo from “Rosanna” totally kicks arse.

    • @lonnieappleby6242
      @lonnieappleby6242 4 года назад +1

      Trevor Moffat OHHHH! I MUST listen to Closer now!

    • @1953beetle
      @1953beetle 4 года назад +2

      Closer without a doubt.

    • @madmax2069
      @madmax2069 4 года назад

      Jan hammer is epic. My favorite Jan hammer music mainly comes from an old VCR tape Calle beyond the mind's eye. Favorite song is from that tape is voyage home

    • @XnazxulX
      @XnazxulX 4 года назад

      madmax2069 beyond the minds eye omg I completely forgot about that video. Yes that is some of his most experimental and best work if I remember right

  • @thenewalex
    @thenewalex Год назад +3

    a decade of great sounds, music and memories

  • @mikk01975
    @mikk01975 2 года назад +5

    For me, any list of ultimate synt riffs isn't complete without Faithless' Insomnia. So simple, yet so powerful.

  • @travisfoster8193
    @travisfoster8193 4 года назад +58

    Journey's "Separate Ways"

    • @lordofrims
      @lordofrims 4 года назад +10

      That one gave me the feels when watching Tron: Legacy's scene when the lights on Flynn's arcade light on.

  • @GVike
    @GVike 3 года назад +55

    Dio, "Rainbow In The Dark"
    OMD, "Enola Gay"
    Rush, "Subdivisions"

  • @atkocuboatkocubo8729
    @atkocuboatkocubo8729 5 дней назад

    Discovered the riff for thriller this morning just by playing with my synth

  • @henrikrolfsen584
    @henrikrolfsen584 8 месяцев назад +2

    Life can have but one reason for it's existence: To create, and seek out beauty. Without this force for life, nothing could have any lasting worth.

  • @80too23
    @80too23 4 года назад +16

    Another great video Espen. Some tunes from the top of my head:
    Gary Numan: Are friends electric?
    Visage: fade to grey
    Howard Jones: Hide and Seek
    Vangelis: Chung Kuo
    A-ha: The sun always shines on TV

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  4 года назад +1

      Thanks! great choices there :)

    • @robinsss
      @robinsss 4 года назад

      the only person shook by the synth on Thriller was some guy sitting on the speaker in the studio

  • @terrytsianos8939
    @terrytsianos8939 4 года назад +10

    John Carpenter's theme to Halloween is one of those riffs that stuck with me for ever.

  • @timmbos
    @timmbos Год назад +4

    Boy those sounds take me back to a much happier time. The world today is absolutely rotting.

  • @HiEnergyMusic
    @HiEnergyMusic 2 года назад

    These are some outstanding riffs, well presented. Thanks! *Thumbs up*

  • @andypeck1972
    @andypeck1972 4 года назад +9

    An excellent video, as always. And also a good demonstration of the Korg DW-8000.
    I would include :-
    Crocketts theme - Jan Hammer
    Drive - The Cars
    Who wants to live forever - Queen

  • @chadellis7070
    @chadellis7070 4 года назад +115

    This list is incomplete without the riff from Just Can’t Get Enough - Depeche Mode

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  4 года назад +12

      The list is not incomplete, but I get you want DM on there. ;-)

    • @sudoreboot
      @sudoreboot 4 года назад +3

      I also was thinking about this riff but it was early DM sound and they go much more darker in next albums, but yes the riff is epic

    • @kazokazo172
      @kazokazo172 3 года назад

      i agree specially duran duran mean nothing to me didnt sound good too for me.several other famous 80's songs from can be added.well at least its added doors which most people ignore them

    • @MrRadiorobot
      @MrRadiorobot 3 года назад +1

      Yazoo 'don't go'

  • @steelfalconx2000
    @steelfalconx2000 2 года назад +3

    As soon as I saw the title I knew Axel F would be on here. I didn't know what it was called but it's such an iconic 80s sound and it's so badass.

  • @dholmlund
    @dholmlund 2 года назад +1

    Great video!! You played them all real good!! :D All those riffs sure shook my world! :)

  • @littlebritain64
    @littlebritain64 4 года назад +4

    Ahhh, You use my beloved Korg DW8000!!! I am happy to have it, and I also bought the EX8000. Thanks a lot. To Duran Duran lovers, I saw on RUclips a great rendition of "Save a Prayer" made using a Novation Supernova. Worths as well.

  • @Sledgefist1
    @Sledgefist1 3 года назад +14

    Dude you are a badass for being the old synth style back. I can’t get enough of it!

  • @dsgarland
    @dsgarland 2 года назад +1

    This is one of the best videos on RUclips and yes, the Fletch theme is spectacular.

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  2 года назад

      Thanks! I play the Fletch theme in another video. ;-)

  • @spacehoppermark6161
    @spacehoppermark6161 2 года назад +4

    Axel F... Couldn't believe my ears when that first came out. AmAzinG..... Jump, classic synth riff for sure! Doors had quite a few unforgettable riffs... Toccata, dam... SKY's version is my memory

  • @wentzr
    @wentzr 4 года назад +26

    “Sirius” the Alan Parsons Project shook all of Chicagoland through the nineties... I still get goosebumps when I hear that song.

    • @iphonemodDOTcom
      @iphonemodDOTcom 4 года назад +2

      Editions of you,Roxy music's for your pleasure.Brian eno on synthesizer sounds pretty good to me.

    • @KB1UIF
      @KB1UIF 4 года назад

      Eye in the sky, Alan Parsons.

    • @blown22
      @blown22 4 года назад +1

      @@KB1UIF Sirius is probably what you're thinking of. It's the synth lead-in to Eye in the Sky.

    • @seth5394
      @seth5394 4 года назад

      the sun in your eyes made some of the lies worth believing

  • @alexwells5974
    @alexwells5974 4 года назад +32

    Yahoo: "Only You;" Kraftwerk: "The Model;" Rush: "Subdivisions;" Led Zeppelin: "All of My Love"

    • @despota2
      @despota2 4 года назад +3

      Yazoo my friend.

  • @apolinariocondorcanqui6166
    @apolinariocondorcanqui6166 3 месяца назад

    You inspire me, ando thanks a lot

  • @l0riz624
    @l0riz624 2 года назад +1

    gosh! this synth is so warm, it makes me wanna wear Suncream!! good Job Espen Kraft!

  • @Ashes2Ashes_Blush2Blush
    @Ashes2Ashes_Blush2Blush 3 года назад +63

    I can't stop replaying the Thriller.
    Michael Jackson was a genius.
    Ugh
    RIP

    • @PJ....
      @PJ.... 2 года назад +5

      @@mattiwigstrom1668 Q, Rod, Bruce & MJ ... Dream Team for Sure ...

    • @ms.annthrope415
      @ms.annthrope415 2 года назад +2

      Quincy Jones did everything except put on a white glove and reach down some little boys pants.
      What does JC Penneys and Michael Jackson have in common? They both have little boys underwear half off.

    • @ChromaticHarp
      @ChromaticHarp Год назад +3

      MJ didn’t write Thriller.
      Rod Temperton did.

    • @meramail
      @meramail Год назад

      But when various artists over decades do one of (if not THE) best work of their lives when collaborating with the same artist, there must be something about that artist..

    • @tomjaasko6878
      @tomjaasko6878 Год назад

      MJ didn’t write it

  • @theearthling5865
    @theearthling5865 3 года назад +188

    Perhaps honorable mention, Africa by Toto.

    • @oranges866
      @oranges866 3 года назад +4

      i think it was more like a regular keyboard sound than a synth

    • @1970piano
      @1970piano 3 года назад +10

      No, it is a typical synth brass sound, Steve Porcaro played it on a Yamaha CS80 Synth.

    • @scottcupp8129
      @scottcupp8129 3 года назад

      @@oranges866 Wrong

    • @oranges866
      @oranges866 3 года назад +1

      @@scottcupp8129 then was it a kalimba or something?

    • @theearthling5865
      @theearthling5865 3 года назад +1

      @@oranges866 It's a typical brass sound on a Yamaha CS80 Synth.

  • @Spontaneous0rder
    @Spontaneous0rder 2 года назад +1

    Thank you for helping me identify an ear worm I've had for a couple days. It was "Axel F."

  • @esmith2112
    @esmith2112 5 месяцев назад +1

    Just stumbled across this video. Nicely curated list! Also nice job on showcasing the Korg DW800. It was my main axe for my bands during the 80s and 90s. A very versatile keyboard!

  • @maxpowers3494
    @maxpowers3494 4 года назад +5

    Axel F will forever be the purest example of my first experience with electronic music.

  • @Sinagorge
    @Sinagorge 4 года назад +13

    The Album that shook my world and introduced me to electronic music was Oxygène by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre. Not only that Album has one of the coolest sleeve arts, the first song (Part 1) simply blew me away when I heard it the first time when I was 11 years old.

    • @IngeBall
      @IngeBall 4 года назад

      Same here. Heard it in school under a class with some invited hippiedude that made us lie on the floor and "unleash our fantasy".
      Cool thing, my older sister got the record as a gift from her boyfriend about a month after. She hated it and was about to throw it away .
      I felt like a winner!

  • @kpec3
    @kpec3 2 года назад +8

    My favorite synth riffs are: Touch & Go - Emerson, Lake, Palmer
    Feels So Good - Van Halen
    She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby

    • @kathyratino962
      @kathyratino962 2 года назад +1

      Touch and Go! Outstanding.

    • @kpec3
      @kpec3 2 года назад +1

      @@kathyratino962 Yeah, so apropos for keyboard...

  • @xa1a
    @xa1a Год назад +1

    I love that you're wearing a Toronto Blue Jays cap!

  • @SuperJ9587
    @SuperJ9587 4 года назад +22

    Sweet dreams are made of these riff is huge

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  4 года назад +2

      Then you should watch my "10 top synth bass lines" video. You'd be well pleased. ;-)

  • @pascalvanelstlande6954
    @pascalvanelstlande6954 4 года назад +64

    depeche mode : enjoy the silence

  • @simonbullimore1807
    @simonbullimore1807 2 года назад +2

    Loved the Bach riff... Thanks for sharing.

  • @DantoBossFace
    @DantoBossFace 21 день назад +1

    good premise, well delivered Godspeed

  • @viper9x
    @viper9x 4 года назад +19

    For me, two honourable mentions Yazoo - Don't Go and Depeche Mode - New Life, two songs i really love to play.

  • @Seeattle
    @Seeattle 4 года назад +86

    I’ve just come down with a bad case of the 80s

    • @meh5812
      @meh5812 4 года назад

      oh shit me too it must be common

    • @vendingdudes
      @vendingdudes 4 года назад +1

      There is no cure, nor is there a need for one

    • @sismeo1
      @sismeo1 4 года назад

      Contagious disease

  • @lamacchinadeltempo5737
    @lamacchinadeltempo5737 6 месяцев назад +2

    Sounds Good! 🏆👌

  • @dominikdecuyper4065
    @dominikdecuyper4065 4 года назад +26

    Just can"t get enough from Depeche Mode

  • @leetronix
    @leetronix 4 года назад +10

    Good choices here are a few of mine:
    OMD - Enola Gay
    Dr Who - any version
    Buggles - Video killed the radio star
    Depeche Mode - Just cant get enough
    Magnificent Seven - original western theme
    Toto - Africa
    ABBA - SOS & Dancing queen, Chiqitita
    Meatloaf - Bat out of hell
    And so many more 😀

    • @pcuimac
      @pcuimac 4 года назад

      I like every other song on the Buggles LP better than the hit single. f.e. Plastic Age, etc.

  • @AhmedAli-zc3mk
    @AhmedAli-zc3mk 8 месяцев назад +1

    Such great work man!!

  • @jazzydiver4519
    @jazzydiver4519 Год назад

    Woo hoo! Got excited when I saw the "buggles" album on your back wall!! Love them!

  • @wyd_marco4107
    @wyd_marco4107 3 года назад +6

    Honestly watching this dude play riffs on a synthesizer at 3AM is a total vibe. Cool stuff 👍

  • @immanuelkantholz9033
    @immanuelkantholz9033 4 года назад +520

    Are you playing completely arythmic and out of time to not get demonetized?

    • @Vextrove
      @Vextrove 4 года назад +52

      Oof

    • @imaner76
      @imaner76 4 года назад +50

      Harsh but, fair.

    • @freyafoxmusic
      @freyafoxmusic 4 года назад +52

      Probably cause he got the sound so perfect it would match the originals

    • @manny_f
      @manny_f 4 года назад +7

      Haha maybe, he used the exact same sounds

    • @50kT
      @50kT 4 года назад +34

      seems like he's playing slowly to show how its done

  • @Jehudi
    @Jehudi 2 года назад +1

    As I'm a younger synth enthousiast,
    here are a few riffs/intro's/... that really bring out the best of a synthesizer for me:
    Timecop1983 - City Lights - lead
    Tycho - L - Lead
    Nils Frahm - Says - Arp
    Lorn - Negative Jumpsuit - Lead
    Olafur Arnalds - Near Light - Outro
    Jon Hopkins - Emerald Rush - Rythmic Bass/Lead
    Daft Punk - Veridis Quo - Lead
    Minilogue - The leopard (Extrawelt Remix) - Everything. This remains my favourite track to this day
    Rival Consoles - Untravel - Lead
    DJ Tiesto - Adagio For Strings - Lead
    Vaal - Seahnak - Lead
    DJ Metatron - State Of Me - Lead
    Adriatique - Voices From The Dawn - Lead
    Trentemoller - Miss You - Melody+Lead
    Aphex Twin - Rhubarb - Melody
    Baal - Lumen - Arp Interlude
    Microtrauma - Solitone - Lead
    Traumer - Nahyr - Lead
    Oxia - Domino - Lead
    Olafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm - Four - Arp
    Todd Terje - Inspector Norse - Lead/Melody
    Recondite - Warg - Lead
    Victor Ruiz - Interstellar - Arp
    Mathew Jonson - Marionette - Arp
    Enjoy,
    I also like my own song Jehudi - Valkyrie - break - arp

  • @dan_gabriel
    @dan_gabriel 2 года назад +3

    You forgot J.M. Jarre, Vangelis, Yes, E.L.P, Genesis and others :-))) Great compilation mate!

  • @chogamer117
    @chogamer117 3 года назад +424

    I wish I grew up in the 80’s. I wish I was able to experience the pop culture first hand. I always think of the 80’s as nostalgic even though I was born in 2002.

    • @johnbishop5316
      @johnbishop5316 3 года назад +18

      80s?? The 60s was it. Pop music was created in the 60s.

    • @chogamer117
      @chogamer117 3 года назад +22

      John Bishop I meant the pop culture. You know like movies, games, music. All that stuff.

    • @johnbishop5316
      @johnbishop5316 3 года назад +8

      @@chogamer117 Hi Cho. I get you, the 80s were good. I was still playing music in that era. But the 60s was best for the music. It was all new.

    • @chogamer117
      @chogamer117 3 года назад

      John Bishop I look into the music from the 60’s. Maybe I’ll like it more than the 80’s.

    • @johnbishop5316
      @johnbishop5316 3 года назад +6

      @@chogamer117 Yes, do. It just kept getting better. Beatles, Stone, Kinks, etc etc. The 60s started in 1963 and went on until about 1974, musically speaking.

  • @jiros00
    @jiros00 3 года назад +7

    Save a Prayer is my favourite one. Haunting.

  • @tonypet1518
    @tonypet1518 2 года назад

    Excellent thanks and thanks again 👍. I love electronic synth sound, it sounds magical to me. Transports me to a different places as all music does.

  • @TheresOnlyOneWayToRock
    @TheresOnlyOneWayToRock 7 месяцев назад

    Great! Now I'll have The Final Countdown playing in my head for a month! 😂👍

  • @RayyMusik
    @RayyMusik 4 года назад +248

    Johann Sebastian Bach, the master of additive synthesis! ;)

    • @DarkSideofSynth
      @DarkSideofSynth 4 года назад +18

      The master of all masters ;)

    • @robinsss
      @robinsss 4 года назад +4

      the only person shook by the synth on Thriller was some guy sitting on the speaker in the studio

    • @awaken77
      @awaken77 4 года назад +17

      Wendy Carlos recorded "Switched on Bach" on the Moog synthesizer. At this time synthesizers were a novelty, and the record was big step forward to the synth revolution. So, Bach contributed to the rise of synthesizer music

    • @macronencer
      @macronencer 4 года назад +1

      I've always maintained that JSB was one of the first jazz musicians. I mean... he used SEVENTH chords!

  • @estebanmasone6186
    @estebanmasone6186 4 года назад +23

    4:58. Bach was born in 1685…so he wrote "toccatta & fugue" when he was approximately 20 years old?
    Jaw dropped

    • @rossmoir7360
      @rossmoir7360 3 года назад +1

      Wasnt game to play the triplets !

    • @chrisclarke4295
      @chrisclarke4295 3 года назад +1

      Mike Oldfield recorded Tubular Bells at 19

  • @allancesterjr4494
    @allancesterjr4494 2 года назад +4

    This was SO COOL AND SO INTERESTING ! Thanks for sharing... I’m about to do the same ! Thanks for the REAL MUSIC 👍🏾

  • @routtookc8064
    @routtookc8064 2 года назад

    JUMP ! Yes ! I never would have reached there in my brain for that to make the list.

  • @ZeranZeran
    @ZeranZeran 3 года назад +7

    Maan, that synth from "Save A Prayer" - Duran Duran still blows my mind, and I was born in 93. Way ahead of it's time, and still so weird and unique sounding. One of my favorite songs.
    Beautiful video, and beautiful playing man. I can't wait to get my keyboard back and get it loaded up with some 80s & 90s sounds. Minimoog is my favorite. Thanks for the inspiration!

    • @EspenKraft
      @EspenKraft  3 года назад

      Thanks! :D

    • @davidnelson3757
      @davidnelson3757 Год назад

      Duran Duran never went for the "Cheesy" lead lines that's why save a prayer stands out

  • @blutoband
    @blutoband 3 года назад +8

    Loving that this was played on an old favorite synth, the KORG DW-8000.

  • @theseventhday
    @theseventhday 2 года назад +2

    Great job, classic rifts.. Love it that he was rocking the Toronto Blue Jays hat too

  • @ExMachina70
    @ExMachina70 7 месяцев назад +10

    Vince Clarke was the greatest most underrated synth artist of their era. I had a friend obsessed with Depeche Mode who also enjoyed listening to Erasure. It wasn't till I went to the Warehouse to listen to used CD's that I ran across their Chorus album and found myself blown away by every song it had on it. Vince had a way to create such a wide variety of sounds that each song (at least to me) was a completely different experience.
    Edit. Of course, when I met him in person, I came off as a babbling idiot completely embarrassing myself some 10 years ago.

    • @blissiplin
      @blissiplin 7 месяцев назад +1

      thx, i need to listen to Vince more, tho I always loved his work. you didn't mention Yaz!

    • @ExMachina70
      @ExMachina70 7 месяцев назад

      @@blissiplin Yaz was his early work before I really knew about him, but I should be lookiing more into that era of his life.

  • @jjerg
    @jjerg 4 года назад +8

    Any reference to "Fletch" is a thumbs up in my book. 😁🤘🏼